Limerick home buyers 'scared to live near a graveyard as they get the heebie-jeebies'
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Limerick locals have appealed controversial plans to build a new cemetery, amid concerns it could devalue their homes as people “are scared to live near a graveyard as they get the heebie-jeebies".
Furthermore, fears have also been raised the site would become a magnet for anti-social behaviour such as drug taking, “bare-knuckle boxing” and “sex in public view”.
The plans to construct the graveyard on the site of the Monaleen pitch and putt course, just outside Castletroy to the east of Limerick City, would see more than 3,300 burial plots built over three phases.
A planning bid was initially lodged by Eugene Harrington for permission from Limerick City and County Council for the development last October.
A report on behalf of the applicant said: “The proposed development is for a memorial park with traditional burial gardens, an ash burial area and columbarium walls.
“A reception plaza will be located central to the site and contain a small building. The development will be accessed via the Monaleen Road by pedestrian and vehicular access, a network of pedestrian pathways will provide access throughout the site. Car parking spaces will be provided inside the main gate as well as at a central parking area next to the central plaza."
The council, however, sought further information before eventually granting permission in August subject to a number of conditions as it would be "in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".
This was despite a slew of concerns raised by nearby residents about the impact of the development. Six objections have now been lodged with An Bord Pleanála over the green light granted by the council for the construction of the graveyard to go ahead.
One wrote the development would have a “catastrophic effect on the value of our property and that of other residents in the vicinity”.
Separately, a resident wrote a valuable piece of property “will be valueless should this development get approval”.
“It’s a fact that a property adjacent to a graveyard adversely affects the value of that property,” the resident wrote.
“Some home buyers are scared to live near a graveyard as they get the heebie jeebies at the site of headstones every day.”
This resident also said the cemetery would be a “profitable commercial venture at the expense of adjacent residents” and could attract all manner of anti-social behaviour.
Another wrote: “Numerous reports and accounts describe shocking and violent anti-social behaviour in graveyards in Limerick City and County. As residents living so close to the proposed development, we are very concerned that this would become an issue in our community.
“Daily, we witness gangs of teenagers on the roads in the area. With very little resources for teenagers in the community, we have serious concerns that the proposed site would become a hangout point.”
Papers were lodged to appeal the decision last week. An Bord Pleanála has set a date of January 15, 2025, for its decision on this planning appeal lodged by the residents.